10 Forestry and Environmental Management Introduction G ifted with plentiful natural resources, the Philippines enjoys innumerable lush forests, rich land, and abundant seas. Unfortunately, the needs of the expanding population for fuel and logs and the lure for profit continue to weigh down on the country’s forest resources. In 2009, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sustained its efforts to fulfill its mandate of bringing to an end the abuses to environment by conserving the remaining resources and ensuring that they benefit the people. It has moved towards sustainable development through the implementation of various programs and projects in line with: a) poverty alleviation and hunger mitigation; b) socio-economic development; c) natural resources conservation; d) climate change mitigation and adaptation; e) strict enforcement of environmental laws; f) environmental advocacies; and g) good governance. These programs, along with some relevant information pertaining to the country’s natural resources, will be discussed in this chapter. 10.1 Forestry The country's forests are depleting fast, primarily because of indiscriminate practices of illegal loggers, slash-and-burn farmers or the kaingineros, and firewood gatherers. Denudation spreads as migrants who lack opportunities in lowlands encroach the ecologically sensitive forest areas. Compounding the situation are the slack law enforcement and inadequate tenurial security, infrastructure support, and extension services extended to upland dwellers. Yet, the country's tropical climate, adequate rainfall, and fertile soil have favored the growth of several species of hardwood that are known for their natural beauty and durability. Considered among the finest in the world, the dipterocarp family of trees, among these is the world-famous Philippine mahogany, produced the bulk of the country's timber, and these are grown in forest cover. Forest cover in 2003 was 7.17 million hectares or 24.3 percent of the country's total land area. This forest cover was 0.71 million hectares or 10.9 percent higher than the 1988 actual forest inventory record of 6.46 million hectares. The increase was due to the vigorous reforestation program involving the government and private sectors particularly the development of industrial forest plantations and management of natural forest areas. FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT A site to qualify as a forest area, has to be 10 hectares, at least, stocked with forest trees, seedlings, saplings, wild palm, bamboo or brush. Narrow strips of land covered of at least 60 meters wide and one hectare long covered with forest foliage also qualify as forests. Industrial tree plantations and tree farms of a hectare or more are also included in the forest category. Virgin forests remain at a hectarage of 0.8 million. The Forest Management Bureau (FMB) of the DENR revealed that the country's forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. From 1950 to 1978, deforestation claimed 204,000 hectares yearly. For the period 1978 to 1988, deforestation slowed down to 199,000 hectares annually. From 1989 to 1995, the rate of forest destruction took a nosedive, leaving an average of 116,322 hectares per year. In response to the need for forest renewal and rehabilitation, the DENR stepped up its regreening strategy for sustainable development. The strategy involves a program series of conservation, management, development, protection, and proper use of natural resources. Forest Lands Of the country's total land area of 30 million hectares in 2009, forestlands comprised 15.81 million hectares (52.7%) and the remaining 14.19 million hectares (47.3%) were alienable and disposable lands. Unclassified forestlands covered 755,000 hectares, or 4.8 percent of all forestlands. (See Table 10.1.) Forestlands refer to lands of the public domain that have not been declared as alienable and disposable, and include public forests, permanent forests or forest reserves, forest reservations, timberlands, grazing lands, and game refuge and bird sanctuaries. Alienable and disposable lands, on the other hand, refer to lands of the public domain that have been the subject of the present system of classification and declared not needed for forest purposes by the government. Among regions, MIMAROPA had the largest forestland area in 2009, with 1.75 million hectares, a figure equivalent to 11.1 percent of the country's total forestland area. The National Capital Region (NCR), on the other hand, had the least hectarage with 15,368 hectares. (See Table 10.1a for details.) Meanwhile, MIMAROPA had the most extensive forest cover, measuring 1.20 million hectares or 16.7 percent of the country’s total forest cover of 7.17 million hectares. (See Table 10.2) Types of Forest The following discussions describe the broad types of forest in the Philippines based on the composition of stands: Dipterocarp species. Best thriving in wet valley bottoms and in hilly or mountainous regions, forests of this species account for roughly 95.0 percent of the total volume of standing trees from commercial forests. The dominant tree in this type is the internationally known Philippine mahogany, a group of commercial woods that are light red to reddish in color. Included in this species are the lauan, tanguile, mayapis, yakal, apitong, and guijo. NSO 2011 PHILIPPINE YEARBOOK Molave forests. Also called mulawin forests, these are composed primarily of molave stands and are found in regions with distinct dry limestone ridges. Important species of this type are narra, tindalo, ipil, akle, and banuyao. Its species are highly valued for their natural beauty and durability. Pine forests. Also known as saleng forests, these are found in mountain regions such as Northern Luzon. In lower areas where they appear, pines mix with hardwood trees. Pine stands, usually of the Benguet species, are scattered and open. They provide turpentine for paint manufacture, as well as long fibers that are good for making strong cement bags. Mangrove forests. Alternately referred to as bakawan forests, these are the principal sources of firewood, tanbark, cutch, dyewood, and charcoal. Among the most important species found in these forests are bakawan, busain, pototan, langarai, and tangal. These forests are found in tidal flats on the mouths of streams and in shores of sheltered bays. Beach forests. These are the types found in dry sandy beaches, where pandan is also abundant. Principal species are talisay, dapdap, agoho, and tawalis. Mossy types. These are important as "protection forests." These are found on the tips of rough mountain regions or in areas characterized by steep surfaces rising to peak, with sides cut into smaller ridges by deep canyons. Trees under this type are dwarfed, and their stems and branches are usually blanketed with moss. The principal species are lokinai and igem. Submarginal forests. These are tropical rainforests dominated by Leguminosae and unknown species that grow in shallow and damp limestone soil. FMB’s records showed that Philippine forests covered a total of 7.17 million hectares. Open forests accounted for more than half (4.03 million ha. or 56.2 %) of the total, while the rest were closed forests (2.56 million ha. or 35.7 %); plantation (329,578 ha. or 4.6 %); and, mangrove natural forests (247,362 ha. or 3.5 %). (Refer to Table 10.2.) Forest Resources Forest resources are divided into four major types, as follows: Timber resources. Timber or standing trees are the principal product of forests. They are supplied from dipterocarp, molave, and pine forests. Timber that comes from these types is either made into lumber or veneer, or manufactured into plywood, wallboard, pulp and paper, and furniture. Timber products from mangrove, beach, and midmountain and mossy forests are useful as light materials for building construction, furniture, firewood, and charcoal. A commercial forest is a forest of commercial tree species in which the volume of trees, with 15 centimeters and over in diameter at breast height and merchantable height of at least five meters, is 40 cubic meters or more per hectare. FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Minor forest product resources. Besides timber, there is an abundance of various kinds of minor forest products of considerable economic value. Although most of these products are used locally, many are also exported. These include rattan, resin, Manila elemi, and bamboo, among others. Recreation, wildlife, and water resources. Having one of the widest collection of plants and animals on a per area basis, the Philippines is placed as one among the 17 most distinct countries in the world. In spite of this claim, compelled by deficient information, poor protected area planning system, exploitation of land, weak enforcement of policies and laws, overpopulation, and poverty, this biodiversity has been seriously threatened and many of its endemic species were highly endangered. The forest habitat is rapidly perishing in the upland areas. This is because of stealing and illegal trading of rare and endangered species for food, pet trade, ornaments, and sports. In the same manner, homegrown species have been damaged since the introduction of alien species into our ecosystem. Similarly, manipulation and destructive use of resources such as dynamite, cyanide, and coral mining depleted the wetlands and coastal areas. Substantial parts of the coastal and marine resources were destroyed due to the excretion of land-based pollution such as wastewater and siltation. To address these problems, the DENR continuously maintained various programs and projects geared towards the conservation and protection of biodiversified rich areas. The DENR and World Bank jointly designed the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS). This project aimed to protect and develop 10 priority national parks selected for their geographic distribution, altitudinal representation, and biodiversity. Through parliamentary action, five sites have been declared and established, as part of the NIPAS. These were Mt. Kitanglad Natural Park, Batanes Protected Landscape and Seascape, Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Mt.